Mercedes-AMG has released the prices of its new 2026 E53 wagon, which will be sold in the US dealerships in the fall, starting at a price of 94,500 US Dollars. The plug-in hybrid performance wagon was fitted with a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six with an electric motor, delivering up to 604 horsepower and having a range of 41 miles of electric-only range, making it the cheapest performance wagon currently available in America.
Most affordable performance wagon option
Performance wagons are having something of a moment, and Mercedes, which sold fast wagons in the States years before Audi and BMW, is getting back in the game with its plug-in hybrid E53 Wagon, according to Motor1. Today, Mercedes confirmed pricing for the E53 Wagon, which will start at $94,500 when it arrives at dealers in the fall. Astoundingly, this makes the E53 the most affordable performance wagon available in the US.
Volvo discontinued the V60 Polestar Engineered, while the BMW M5 Touring costs $127,675, and the Audi RS6 Avant Performance costs $132,995. There’s also the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, which starts at $118,350. The Mercedes is something of a step down in performance compared to the RS6 and M5, with 604 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque from its plug-in, all-wheel drive powertrain.
Hybrid powertrain delivers impressive performance
When the ’26 E53 wagon goes on sale sometime this fall, it’ll have a starting price of $94,500, according to Car and Driver. That is a $3750Â upcharge versus its mechanically identical sedan counterpart. And while the AMG wagon’s price certainly isn’t chump change, it’s a lot less than some of its similarly powerful competitors; the 621-hp Audi RS6 Avant starts at around $128,000.
Just like the E53 sedan, its wagon sibling’s plug-in powertrain pairs a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six with a single electric motor. The system is typically good for 533 horsepower and 577 pound-feet of torque. However, activating its Race mode raises its peak output to 604 horsepower. The PHEV setup also includes a 21-kWh battery pack, and Mercedes says it will provide 41 miles of electric-only range.
Significant savings over the previous generation
For AMG fans who want a high-powered wagon, the E53 variant actually lowers the cost of entry compared with the outgoing-generation E63 S wagon, which started at $122,250 for the 2023 model year. AMG combines a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six with the brand’s unique, rear-mounted hybrid unit. The engine makes a maximum of 443 hp, while the motor adds a further 161 hp.
Note that the full 604 hp is only available when using AMG’s Race Start launch-control function, which you only get access to with the optional AMG Dynamics Plus package. Normally, you “just” have 577 hp. Even though it’s not a full-fat AMG model, the E53 isn’t far off the power and performance of the RS6, M5, and Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, while undercutting all on price.
Performance specifications competitive
Base Dynamics Mercedes says it takes 4.0 seconds to get to 60 miles per hour and has a top speed of 155 mph; with the optional AMG Dynamics Plus, 0-60 is 3.8 seconds, and the top speed is increased to 174 mph. Although the base price of the 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 wagon is a relative bargain when compared to its competitor, Audi, there should be no doubt that the bottom line of the Merc will increase as it expands to higher Exclusive and Pinnacle models, and also with the quantity of optional add-ons.
The Mercedes-AMG E53 wagon is a strong competitor with a good price point to the high-performance wagons, drawing significant power and luxury at a lower cost than its German competitors. The E53 wagon, with its plug-in hybrid giving it not only amazing performance but also the ability to operate on electricity only, is a good fit for the enthusiast who wants the comfort, efficiency, and performance of a high-performance car but also wants it to be a practical, high-performance car.